Ryouma's damaged ship was discovered after the Uplifting of Skysong, where it had gotten swept down into a partially flooded crater, beached and wedged against the wall. It has been largely restored in the intervening time and become a part of the developing landscape of Old Springstar, unique if only because it is a fully intact steamship circa 1865 jutting out of the crater wall.

Over time, the ship's structure was stabilised and converted into a permanent fixture built into the side of the crater. It serves as a shrine and a living space for the most devoted.

Ryouma occupies the Captain's quarters, seated in what appears to be a sturdy throne made of wood and leather and has been posed so that one hand rests on one of his swords and the other on his leg, gun in hand. It was as if he was so confidently at ease that he felt comfortable dozing off while waiting for an enemy to appear.

He is also displayed (weirdly) shirtless to keep both of his Shards on display, although a long black jacket in his usual style is draped over his shoulders. He is wearing a lot of mismatched jewellery all at once, all meant to play into a royal or pirate aesthetic and does so in the most kitschy way possible. Given how well-attended he is, the decision to let his hair grow long and wild to cultivate a more feral image was intentional. And, in case anyone was wondering (no), his most devoted followers are definitely braiding shed strands of hair into wearable talismans, which they believe grants them luck or protection because this is a completely normal thing to do!!

As far as offerings are concerned, the years have seen tokens and symbols of Meridian slowly being overtaken and replaced by offerings of money, weapons, and liquor. Then, there are the more gruesome offerings of blood and bone. Thanks to the number of rats, mice, and pigeons left as offerings, both sections of Kowloon must have less of a vermin problem, and rumour has it that leaving a frog is especially favourable...

If nothing else, it means the live snakes that are also often left as offerings always have something to eat because that's a thing that's happening.

The unstable social and political environment within Old Springstar has had a significant impact on how Ryouma was remembered — or not remembered, as it turns out. Little knowledge remains about the man he had been, and the gaps have instead been filled in by lore suitable for an ideal bearer who could carry all the people's problems.

It's unclear when exactly his name was lost to time, but at some point, people just started referring to him as the Pirate King or the Lord of Snakes.

The legend goes that he (and his ship) were cast down into the mud despite his devotion and commitment to Meridian. This appeals particularly to those banished from Skysong, and the tale has grown more sensational over time. Ryouma is seen by most as the patron saint of outcasts and those who have been abandoned or disenfranchised, hurt or betrayed. He is often prayed to for protection from violence and hatred.

Ryouma has also attracted particular interest from the denizens of Ryad, as many 'monsters' have also come to see their own struggles in him. His two Shards are a curiosity that some take as proof that he is more monstrous than his human appearance would suggest. Others claim to have seen him change — temporarily developing claws and scales — and believe this proof of an internal fight to reconcile two halves of himself, even in repose. This monstrous nature is often cited as a reason for his expulsion from Skysong, and naturally, this belief in a shared experience further endears him to those who have been shunned and oppressed for ages.

He is also associated with criminality, as offerings will often be made or candles will be lit for luck and protection over "illegal" affairs so that shady deals are profitable, heists go according to plan, hits go down with no complications, and rival gangs don't interfere.

While not on display, the glowing brand on his back at the base of his neck is known and is a matter of debate. Those with particularly strong Zenith leanings see it as an auspicious sign.

What ultimately unites this Cult of Takachiho (named for the ship) is their fierce hatred of Skysong and the desire to see it fall (if you're a Downtowner, maybe literally??). They believe that one day, he will wake and lead them to claim their place in the sun. So, like, no pressure when he actually wakes up or anything??

The people who initially found Ryouma and established his Resting Room were friends. They were fishermen, dockworkers, and anyone else who spent much of their time on the water. They had known him as a person because he had spent time with them, trying to get to know them all individually and learn their stories. That was true about a lot of people in Springstar since he had spent his first month trying to immerse himself in the city, but since he lived on the water himself, those people had been his neighbours and had made an effort to search when his ship went missing.

Unfortunately, the area it had ended up in was a frequent target of raids, and eventually, the original caretakers were killed or forced out. Ryouma hadn't been a target, of course, but the new owners just sort of inherited the local bearer shrine when they took over the neighbourhood. His name and any actual memories of him were lost to time, and new lore would crop up to replace them.

All things considered, Ryouma's shrine is very well taken care of, and the worst thing that happens is an offering of something dead gets left a little too long before it's removed. The members of his cult consider themselves members of his "crew", so acts of service to maintain the shrine and care for its bearer is an expectation for any crew member.